Lighter-fluid-vending machine



March 17, 1931.

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Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD R. STEWART, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ORANGE COUNTY MANUFACTURING (10., OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALL FORNIA LIGHTER-FLUID-VENDING MACHINE Application filed December 11, 1928.

My invention is a lighter fluid vending machine for vending a charge for a cigarette or cigar lighter.

An object of my invention is a device, which when operated will vend one charge of the lighter fluid such as used in cigarette and cigar lighters in order to replenish one of such lighters.

Another object of my invention is to have the vending machine coin controlled, whereby on the insertion of a single coin the device may be operated to vend the one charge of fluid, the device being inoperative when no coin is placed in the vending machine.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a vending machine for liquids, having a pump with a fixed size chamber to hold sufficient fluid to fill a cigarette or cigar lighter. This pump on the downward movement of the pump plunger forces the fluid out through a discharge check valve and through a discharge pipe. The liquid in the measuring pump is refilled therein on the upward movement of the plunger after vending the full charge.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a vending machine for a liquid in which the pump plunger is operated by a downward movement of a telescopic stem and it is only on the insertion of a coin that movement is communicated to the plunger stem and then only so long as pressure is brought to bear on the handle portion of the stem and on the coin.

A further detailed object of my invention is the release of the coin after the pump has discharged its charge or if the operator releases the handle portion of the stem.

In constructing my device I have a suitable tank or receptacle for the lighting fluid and extending upwardly of this there is a standard and on top of the standard there is a reciprocal handle stem having a spring holding the handle stem in its uppermost position. The stem .s encased by telescopic sleeves. A measuring pump barrel is located in the receptacle and has an intake check Valve at the bottom. The pump plunger operating in the barrel has a pump stem extending upwardly and being in telescopic arrangement Serial No. 825,200.

of the stem, engaging preferably against acollar of this latter ste m. Hence when there is a continuous downward pressure on the handle part of the stem, the coin transmits motion to the plunger stem and hence to the plunger, forcing the charge with oil fluid from the pump barrel through the discharge nozzle. If the operator allows a slight upward motion of the handle portion of the stem before the charge is completely made, the coin will drop out of the coin slot or pocket into the standard. Also on the completion of the charge and release of the handle part of the stem, this is forced upwardly by a spring and the coin released.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vending machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 3, showing the pump plunger and stems in a different position to illustrate the functioning of the stem.

In constructing my invention I form a tank or receptacle 11. This has side walls 12, a base 13, and a top 14. The top is provided with an opening 15 having a gauze cover 16. A top plate 17 is located on top of the receptacle and has an opening 18 leading to the opening having the gauze.

A box-like standard 19 extends upwardly from the top of the receptacle and extending upwardly on one side of the standard there is a discharge pipe 20 having a discharge nozzle 21, this being encased in a covering .22. A measuring pump barrel 23 is mounted in the receptacle and has an intake check valve 24 at the bottom. A discharge check valve 25 is connected adjacent the base of the pump barrel at one side and leads to the pipe 20. A pump plunger 26. of any suitable type is mounted in the pump barrel and has a telescopic stem 27 connected thereto. This stem has alower plunger stem 28 which terminates at 29 above the bottom 30 of the upper sleeve like stem 31. This sleeve-like or handle stem is conducted upwardly to a head or handle 32. A spring 33 bears on a. flange 34 of a guide tube 35 the flange being mounted on the top 36 of the standard 19. The spring also engages the underside of the head 32. An inverted cup 37 extends over the head or handle and telescopes over a sleeve or tube 38 thereby enclosing the spring and the handle portion of the stem.

The coin operating mechanism utilizes a slot v39 formed in the upper or sleeve like stem 31. This stem is guided on the lower stem by a guide pin'40"whic h fits in the slot 39. A coin slot 41 is provided in the stand ard 19 and there is a fixed chute 42 inside the slot leading to a movable chute 43, this latter being connected to one side of the upper sleeve stem 31 so that when a coin is inserted through the slot 31 it rolls down the chutes 42 and 43 engaging the upper surface 129 of the plunger stem 28. The coin is brought to rest by a stop 44 secured to the standard19.

An adjustable collar 45 is mounted on the tubular sleeve 31. This collar has a groove 46 sliding on the guide rail 47 and prevents rotation of the sleeve 31. It will be seen that the spring 33 exerts an upward tension on the upper tubular stem 31 and this stem through the medium of the pin 40 exerts an upward pull on the plunger stem 28 and thus normally the pump plunger 26 is in its uppermost position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. c

When a coin is inserted and comes to rest against the stop 44 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and when the operator presses downwardly on the handle or head 32, the upper tubular sleeve 31 is forced downwardly until the adjustable collar 45 engages the upper edge of the coin as indicated in Fig. 4 and the continued downward movement carries the coin in the slot 39 pressed between the collar 45 and the upper end 29 of the lower plunger stem 28. Such action forces the pump plunger downwardly and discharges the charge of fluid from the pump barrel 23 outwardly through the nozzle 21. Any surplus fluid flows back to the receptacle through the gauze 16.

After the full discharge of the, charge in the'pump barrel and on release of the head 32 by the operator, the spring carries the telescopic stem upwardly and at the same time as the coin is relieved from the pressure be tween the collar 45 and the end 29, the coin drops into the standard 19 which has sufiicient space for the collection of a considerable number of coins.

My device provides that only one charge can be given for one coin on account of the release of the coin at the end of the down-- ward movement of the pump plunger. Also if the operator before the pump is complete ly discharged releases the head 32, the coin will be discharged and the pump plunger drawn upwardly.

The collar 45 has one function of preventing rotation of the sleeve 31 by interengagement of the collar with the guide rail 47. It also limits the upward movement'of the sleeve 31 and in addition gives an adj ustable upper member to engage the coin and by engaging such coin pressing downwardly on the pump plunger 28.

Various changes may be made in the principles of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vending machine, a reciprocal stem having a lower rod-like part adapted upon depression to actuate the vending machine and an upper sleeve-like part telescoping thereover, the sleeve having a slot forming a coin pocket, an inclined chute leading into said pocket, a stop to position a coin in the pocket, a guide rail, a collar on the sleeve having an interconnection with the guide rail and preventing rotation of the. .said sleeve and means to depress the. sleeve to bring the collar into contact with the coin, the

coin thereby depressing the rod-like part of the stem.

2. In a vending machine, reciprocatable vertical stem having a lower rod-like portion adapted upon depression to actuate the vending machine and an upper sleeve-like part telescoping thereover, the sleeve having a slot forming a coin pocket, a movable coin chute attached to. the sleeve, a stationary coin chute to align therewith to conduct coins into the said slot, a stop to position a coin in the pocket, an adjustable collar on the sleeve, a guide rail, an interconnection between the collar and the rail to prevent rotation of the sleeve, and means to depress the sleeve to bring the collar into contact with the said coin and thereby depress the coin and the rod-like part.

3. In a vending machine, a reciprocatable stem having a lower rod-like part adapted upon depression to actuate the vending machine and an upper sleeve, the sleeve having a slot forming a coin pocket, a partial chute connected to the sleeve and in alignment with to ehgage a coin in the pocket and press such coin against the upper end of the rod-like part of the stem thereby depressing said rodlike part.

4. A vending machine having a box-like standard with a stem vertically mounted therein for vertical reciprocation, the stem being formed of a lower rod-like part adapted upon depression to actuate the vending machine and a sleeve telescoping thereon, the sleeve having a slot forming a coin pocket, a partial coin chute on the sleeve in alignment with the pocket; a fixed chute in the standard,

a stop in the standard to position coins in the coin pocket, a collar adjustable on the sleeve, the collar being adapted to engage the upper part of the standard and limit the upward movement of the said stem and to contact with the coin in the coin pocket, depressing thereby the rod-like part of the stem.

5. In a fluid vending machine, a reciprocal stem having a lower rod-like part adapted upon depression to actuate the vending machine, and an upper sleeve-like part telescoping thereover, the sleeve having a slot forming a coin pocket, a chute leading to such pocket, a stop to position a coin in the pocket, an adjustable collar on the sleeve to limit the movement of the sleeve and to engage a coin in the pocket to. press such coin against the upper end of the rod-like part of the stem, thereby depressing said rodlike part.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s ecification.

" OWARD R. STEWART. 

